Committees responsible for this British Standard

The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by the Fire Standards Policy Committee (FSM/-) to Technical Committee FSM/11, upon which the following bodies were represented:

Association of British Theatre Technicians
Association of Manufacturers Allied to the Electrical and Electronic Industry (BEAMA Ltd)
Bingo Association of Great Britain
British Entertainments and Dance Hall Association
British Sign Association
Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers' Association
Cinema Exhibitors' Association
Department of Health
Department of the Environment (Property Services Agency)
Department of the Environment (Building Research Establishment)
Fire Extinguishing Trades Association
Fire Fighting Vehicle Manufacturers' Association
Guild of Architectural Ironmongers
Home Office
Lighting Industry Federation Ltd.
London Fire and Civil Defence Authority
Loss Prevention Council
Ministry of Defence
National Radiological Protection Board
Royal Institute of British Architects

This British Standard, having been prepared under the direction of the Fire Standards Policy Committee, was published under the authority of the Board of BSI and comes into effect on 31 July 1990

First published March 1950 Second edition May 1970 Third edition July 1990

The following BSI references relate to the work on this standard:

Committee reference FSM/11
Draft for comment 88/38617 DC

Foreword

This British Standard has been prepared under the direction of the Fire Standards Policy Committee. It supersedes BS 1635:1970, which is withdrawn. In its preparation, consideration has been given to ISO 6790 "Graphical symbols for fire protection plans", published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The symbols agreed by ISO have been used wherever possible, and additional information (Table 7, Table 8 and Table 9) included as this was within the scope of the 1970 edition.

The opportunity has also been taken to change the format so that it conforms with the style of BS 1192‑3:1987.

Although based on the principles set out in ISO 6790, this British Standard incorporates precedents that exist in British practice, particularly in the use of qualifying or explanatory abbreviations, and adopts the rationale proposed in BS 1192, and restated in this standard. Graphic conventions proposed by ISO or other authorities that do not conform either to the stated rationale or to national precedent have not been included. The symbols taken from ISO 6790 without modification are noted with an asterisk.

The names given to symbols have wherever possible been derived from BS 4422 and the wording used in group 9, Fire safety signs, complies with BS 5499‑1.

A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity from legal obligations.

Section 1. General

1 Scope

This British Standard, which is primarily intended for those preparing drawings, gives recommendations for symbols and other graphic conventions for use on drawings for fire protection purposes.

The recommendations include the production of graphical symbols to be used on fire protection drawings in architectural, engineering, building and allied design fields. Details are provided of equipment for fire protection, fire fighting and means of escape on drawings for design, construction, renovation or fire certification purposes.

It also describes a rationale of symbolism (Clause 3) which establishes rules for the design of symbols and other graphic conventions, and gives recommendations for the application of those rules and the ways in which symbolism should be used (Clause 4).

Appendix A gives an example (for information only) of a drawing using some of these symbols.

NOTE The titles of the publications referred to in this standard are listed on the inside back cover.

2 Definitions

3 Rationale

3.1 Indication of all features of an object

3.2 Limited indication of the features of an object

3.3 Non-realistic indication of objects

3.4 Symbols sharing common subsidiary features

3.5 Types of symbol

3.6 Conventions showing abstract items

3.7 Comparison between representations, simplified representations and symbols

4 Design and use of symbolism

4.1 Graphic simplicity

4.2 Symbols (including elements of symbols)

4.3 Graphics

4.4 Authority

5 Presentation of the compendium

5.1 General

5.2 Background matrix

5.3 Reference system

5.4 Arrangement of tables

Section 2. Compendium

Publications referred to

BS 1635:1990

Recommendations for graphic symbols and abbreviations for fire protection drawings

Current

Published:

31 Jul 1990